+
Chennai Metro Phase II: Tunnelling to Begin at Kolathur
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Chennai Metro Phase II: Tunnelling to Begin at Kolathur

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to begin tunnelling work for Phase II between Kolathur and Villivakkam within the next two weeks, marking a significant milestone in the city's ?632 billion ($7.6 billion) metro expansion.

Phase II comprises three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). While substantial progress has been made in Corridors 3 and 4, the underground stretch of Corridor 5 has been delayed by over a year.

CMRL officials have confirmed that tunnelling will begin this month at Kolathur, with the tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Kurinji’ already in position. This crucial five-kilometre underground section will feature metro stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, and Villivakkam MTH Road.

Corridor 5 starts as an elevated stretch from Madhavaram to Retteri before going underground at Kolathur Junction. It will remain underground until Villivakkam MTH Road, after which it resurfaces and continues elevated to Sholinganallur via Madipakkam.

Once operational, the corridor will enhance connectivity for residents of Kolathur and Villivakkam, linking them directly to key locations like Mylapore, Adyar, and the IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). Villivakkam will benefit from three metro stations, improving accessibility and reducing travel time.

Preparatory work for tunnelling is in progress, and CMRL officials remain optimistic about the excavation between Kolathur and Srinivasa Nagar due to the mostly clayey soil, with only minor rocky patches near Srinivasa Nagar.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to begin tunnelling work for Phase II between Kolathur and Villivakkam within the next two weeks, marking a significant milestone in the city's ?632 billion ($7.6 billion) metro expansion. Phase II comprises three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). While substantial progress has been made in Corridors 3 and 4, the underground stretch of Corridor 5 has been delayed by over a year. CMRL officials have confirmed that tunnelling will begin this month at Kolathur, with the tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Kurinji’ already in position. This crucial five-kilometre underground section will feature metro stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, and Villivakkam MTH Road. Corridor 5 starts as an elevated stretch from Madhavaram to Retteri before going underground at Kolathur Junction. It will remain underground until Villivakkam MTH Road, after which it resurfaces and continues elevated to Sholinganallur via Madipakkam. Once operational, the corridor will enhance connectivity for residents of Kolathur and Villivakkam, linking them directly to key locations like Mylapore, Adyar, and the IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). Villivakkam will benefit from three metro stations, improving accessibility and reducing travel time. Preparatory work for tunnelling is in progress, and CMRL officials remain optimistic about the excavation between Kolathur and Srinivasa Nagar due to the mostly clayey soil, with only minor rocky patches near Srinivasa Nagar.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Pitti Engineering Q1 Revenue Rises 17 per cent to Rs 4.57 Billion

Hyderabad, 7 August 2025 – Pitti Engineering Limited, one of India’s largest producers of electrical steel laminations and machined components, reported robust financial results for the first quarter of FY26, ended 30 June 2025. The company registered a 17 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue to Rs 4.57 billion. EBITDA rose by 30 per cent to Rs 750 million, while profit after tax increased by 17 per cent to Rs 230 million.During the quarter, capacity utilisation reached 82 per cent for machined hours, 70 per cent for sheet metals, and 69 per cent for castings. Sales volume for stator fram..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Godavari Biorefineries Posts Rs 5.34 Billion Q1 Income

Godavari Biorefineries Limited, one of India’s major ethanol producers and a pioneer in ethanol-based chemicals, has announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2025. The company reported total income of Rs 5.34 billion for Q1 FY26, compared to Rs 5.25 billion in Q1 FY25 and Rs 5.89 billion in Q4 FY25.EBITDA stood at Rs 65 million, up from a negative Rs 95 million in the same period last year, though lower than Rs 1.22 billion recorded in the previous quarter. The EBITDA margin was 1.2 per cent in Q1 FY26, compared to a negative 1.8 per cent in Q1 FY25 and 20.7 pe..

Next Story
Technology

Odisha Approves Rs 6.18 Billion SiC Plant Support

The Electronics and Information Technology Department of the Government of Odisha has approved fiscal support for Phase 1 of RIR Power Electronics Limited’s Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductor manufacturing facility in the state. The Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), acting as the nodal agency, has sanctioned and notified the fiscal support agreement for pro-rata disbursement of capital subsidy to the company.The project was approved by the State-Level Single Window Clearance Committee and the Odisha state cabinet in the previous financial year. The total cost for both phases is est..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?